Cotton production show 34.28pc decline
From Our Correspondent
MULTAN: Cotton production has shown 34.28 per cent decline in 2016 as ginners received 9,768,443 bales across the country as compared to the last year production of 14,838,605 bales.
Talking to reporters here on Tuesday, Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association chairman Shahzad Ali Khan said despite 34.21 per cent less production of cotton, 0.489 million bales are lying unsold in the ginneries, and textile owners are not showing interest to purchase the stock. He said out of the total arrivals, 9.762 million bales have been made so far. Ginneries in Punjab recorded arrival of 5,996,107 bales recorded decrease of 44.81 per cent. The Sindh ginneries recorded arrival of 3,766,037 bales while last year Sindh received 3,974,500 bales some 5.25pc less.
Ginneries in Sindh recorded a shortfall of 5.25 per cent as compared to corresponding period last year. Textile mills have bought 8,911,002 bales while exporters bought 362,141 bales. The total bales sold out so far were calculated at 9,273,143 bales.
The PCGA chairman has demanded the government taking extensive measures for better production in year 2016-17 and implementation on the recommendations of the Task Force. He demanded provision of certified seed and unadulterated pesticides to growers, cotton growing seminars at union council level for massive production, enactment of Cotton Control Ordinance and agriculture laws, a complete ban on establishment or shifting of new sugar mills in cotton region.
He said the government should announce subsidy on agriculture tube wells electricity and rebate on diesel prices. Shahzad urged the government to announce cotton support price and activation of Federal Seed Certification department. He called for a complete ban on import of yarn and cotton from India. The government provide loan to ginning factories on minimum mark up for five years. The government devises cotton policy in consultation with cotton stakeholders. He said Multan received 129,784 bales 73.90 per cent short than last year, Lodhran 97,437 bales 73.83pc short, Khanewal 404,570 bales 58.99pc short, Muzaffargarh 269,344 bales the decrease of 45.39pc, Dera Ghazi Khan 291,145 bales a decrease of 40.85, Rajanpur 405,437 bales decrease of 28.65pc, Layyah 251,988 bales decrease of 36.25pc, Vehari 312,850 bales decrease of 61.07pc, Sahiwal 256,016 bales decrease of 57.13 6pc, Pakpattan 66,478 bales decrease of 59.85pc, Okara 22,148 pc decrease of 56.84 pc, Kasur 11,376 pc decrease of 46.47pc, Toba Tek Singh 141,107 bales, Faisalabad 52,839 bales, Jhang 42,680, Mianwali 343,863 bales, Bhakkar 82,759 bales, Sargodha 11,607 bales, Rahimyar Khan 1,114,280 bales decrease of 21.07pc, Bahawalpur 745,201,and Bahawalnagar 9,423,298 bales, Hyderabad 250,607 bales decarese of 5.56pc,Mirpur Khas (Thar) 274,145 bales, Sangarh 1,346,464 bales, Nawabshah 312,622 bales, Naushero Feroze 283,084 bales, Khairpur 270,431 bales, Ghotki 320,362 bales, Sukkur 448,068 bales, Dadu 36,328 bales, Jamshoro 133,000 bales, Badeen 31,645 bales and Balochistan 57,045 bales.
He said there are only 47 ginning factories that are operational in the country and 41 of them are in Punjab and 6 in Sindh.
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